US6944458B2 - Method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated to a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released, and a corresponding network for radio telecommunications - Google Patents

Method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated to a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released, and a corresponding network for radio telecommunications Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US6944458B2
US6944458B2 US10/449,178 US44917803A US6944458B2 US 6944458 B2 US6944458 B2 US 6944458B2 US 44917803 A US44917803 A US 44917803A US 6944458 B2 US6944458 B2 US 6944458B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
time
user terminal
length
base station
power
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related, expires
Application number
US10/449,178
Other versions
US20030236094A1 (en
Inventor
Iqbal Jami
Paul William Piggin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nokia of America Corp
WSOU Investments LLC
Original Assignee
Lucent Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lucent Technologies Inc filed Critical Lucent Technologies Inc
Assigned to LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. reassignment LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: JAMI, IQBAL, PIGGIN, PAUL WILLIAM
Publication of US20030236094A1 publication Critical patent/US20030236094A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6944458B2 publication Critical patent/US6944458B2/en
Assigned to OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LP reassignment OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LP SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
Assigned to WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC reassignment WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ALCATEL LUCENT
Assigned to WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC reassignment WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: OCO OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P. (F/K/A OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND LP
Assigned to OT WSOU TERRIER HOLDINGS, LLC reassignment OT WSOU TERRIER HOLDINGS, LLC SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/30—Connection release
    • H04W76/38—Connection release triggered by timers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to telecommunications, and more particularly, wireless communications.
  • radio resources may be assigned exclusively to one user terminal for the entire time that the user is allocated the channel, regardless of whether the user terminal is using the channel or not. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • the user changes between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states in a non-deterministic fashion. This is because the time interval between successive data activity periods varies greatly during a call.
  • Signalling may be required for the network to transition the user between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states, with consequential use of base station transmit power.
  • Part of the signalling to make the users change between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states is performed on a (shared) signalling channel.
  • a signalling channel has no power control (or very crude power control), its use requires a significant amount of base station transmit power.
  • the transitions between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states do not occur as frequently, and as a consequence, less signalling, and consequential power usage for signalling, is required; however, there is, of course, a longer delay before resources are reallocated to another user, which can be undesirable.
  • the user transitions back and forth between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states frequently. Frequent signalling is involved to change between the two states during which a large amount of base station transmit power is required. Furthermore, there are user terminals that require less base station transmit power in the ‘active’ state than for signalling. With frequent signalling, the overall base station transmit power allocated for those users is higher, as illustrated in FIG. 4 . This holds true for any network where the base station transmit power required for signalling is higher than the base station transmit power required by the corresponding ‘active’ state.
  • the present invention provides a method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by a telecommunications base station to communications with a first user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released for use by another user terminal, the length of time being selected dependent upon the expected base station transmit power required for communications to the first user terminal.
  • a method provides user-specific data inactivity timers for packet data services. A timer is selected for a user dependent upon the base station (i.e. downlink) power required to communicate with that user. Each user has its own customised inactivity timer value instead of fixed inactivity timer value for all the users. This contrasts with the prior art approach in which the data inactivity timer value is fixed at one value for all the users.
  • Advantages of the present invention in its preferred embodiments are that it is possible to use the radio resources, in particular the base station transmit power, more efficiently. There is also a reduction in the excessive signalling involved in switching between active and inactive states.
  • the length is selected dependent upon the last recorded base station transmit power used for communicating with the first user terminal.
  • the higher the expected base station transmit power the shorter the length of time selected.
  • a shorter length of time is selected than otherwise.
  • a further power threshold t 2
  • t1 the further power threshold
  • t 2 the further power threshold
  • t 1 the further power threshold
  • the method is undertaken for each of a plurality of first user terminals each having an associated dedicated channel for communications, so as to provide for each first user terminal an associated selected length of time.
  • the present invention also provides a network for radio telecommunications comprising a base station and a plurality of user terminals including a first user terminal and other user terminals, the network comprising a timer associated with the first user terminal operative to determine whether a length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by the base station to communications with the first user terminal has been reached so as to release the channel for use by one of the other user terminals, the network comprising a selector operative to select the length of time dependent upon the expected base station transmit power required for communications to the first user terminal.
  • the selector is operative to select the length dependent upon its last recorded base station transmit power used for communicating with the first user terminal.
  • the selector is operative to select such that the higher the expected base station transmit power, the shorter the length of time selected. Furthermore preferably the selector is operative to select such that if the user terminal power is greater than a power threshold (t 1 ) a shorter length of time is selected than otherwise. Furthermore preferably if the user terminal power is less than a further power threshold (t 2 ) which is lower than the power threshold (t 1 ), then a longer length of time is selected than otherwise. Furthermore preferably the selector is operative to select such that if the user terminal power is greater than the further power threshold (t 2 ) but less than the power threshold (t 1 ), then a length of time is selected that is intermediate of said shorter length of time and said longer length of time.
  • the selector is operative to select lengths of time to be used for each of a plurality of first user terminals each having an associated dedicated channel for communications, such that each first user terminal has an associated selected length of time.
  • the selector is operative to select the or each length of time repeatedly over time so as to enable adjustment of the length of time selected in response to a change in the base station transmit power required.
  • the base station is under the control of a radio network controller, the radio network controller comprising the selector.
  • the radio network controller maintains a record of base station transmit power level used to the or each first user terminal, the record being updated over time, the recorded base station transmit power level being the expected base station transmit power for further communications.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating use of channel resources by dedicated channels
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the use of an inactivity timer
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating sharing dedicated channel resources via inactivity timer
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating base station power duty cycle due to data inactivity
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a network for mobile telecommunications
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating use of a user specific inactivity timer in the network shown in FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating power thresholds and the corresponding inactivity timer values used in the network.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an algorithm for the inactivity timer scheme.
  • method for selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by a telecommunications base station to communications with a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released.
  • the present invention also relates to a corresponding network for radio telecommunications
  • a preferred UMTS radio access network UTRAN 10 consists of a radio network controller RNC 12 which controls the operation of several base transceiver stations (base transceiver stations BTS 14 , denoted NodeB in UMTS terminology, and one of which is shown in FIG. 5 for simplicity).
  • a base transceiver station 14 communicates with a mobile user terminal (e.g., user equipment UE 16 ) during a call connection to that user terminal 16 .
  • User-specific data inactivity timers are provided, i.e. each user can be assigned a different inactivity timer value.
  • This timer value for a user terminal is selected based on the base station power required by the user terminal as illustrated in FIG. 6 . If the user terminal consumes a large amount of base station power (m), then a small value (n) of inactivity timer is assigned. However, if the user terminal requires less base station power (p), then a larger value (q) of inactivity timer is assigned. As shown in FIG.
  • a user terminal for user terminals (e.g., user 1 , user 2 ) with identical activity and inactivity periods but with different power requirements, a user terminal (e.g., user 2 ) which demand more base station power (m), is set a shorter, e.g., lower value, inactivity timer (n).
  • inactivity timer e.g., lower value
  • the radio network controller RNC 12 keeps a record of power level used to each user terminal, and determines the timer to be applied in communications between the base station and the user terminal. The power usage of each user terminal is periodically reported back to and updated in the radio network controller RNC 12 by the respective base station.
  • One example implementation is as follows, being a scheme whereby a user terminal's inactivity timer is set as low, medium or high based on its power requirement.
  • the method steps to implement the proposed scheme are as follows.
  • the base station transmit power to a user terminal is determined (a).
  • a determination is made (b) as to whether that power is greater than a preselected higher power threshold t1. If (c) the power is greater than the higher power threshold t1, then (d) inactivity time-out timer to be applied is set to low, e.g., the resources are released soonest from the start of inactivity in data transfer being detected.
  • the base station transmit power required to the user terminal is considered again to determine whether a change in inactivity timer is required.
  • the inactivity timer for each user terminal is thus user terminal-specific, and dynamic in the sense of changing over time in response to changing base station transmit power requirements, for example, as a user terminal traverses through a base station's cell (e.g., area of radio coverage).
  • processing circuitry required to implement and use the described system may be implemented in application specific integrated circuits, software-driven processing circuitry, firmware, programmable logic devices, hardware, discrete components or arrangements of the above components as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.
  • processing circuitry required to implement and use the described system may be implemented in application specific integrated circuits, software-driven processing circuitry, firmware, programmable logic devices, hardware, discrete components or arrangements of the above components as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.
  • Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that these and various other modifications, arrangements and methods can be made to the present invention without strictly following the exemplary applications illustrated and described herein and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Abstract

A method is provided of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by a telecommunications base station to communications with a first user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released for use by another user terminal. The length of time is selected dependent upon the expected base station transmit power required for communications to the first user terminal.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of Great Britain Application No. 0214518.3 filed on Jun. 24, 2002.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to telecommunications, and more particularly, wireless communications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In networks for mobile telecommunications, as regards dedicated channels, radio resources may be assigned exclusively to one user terminal for the entire time that the user is allocated the channel, regardless of whether the user terminal is using the channel or not. This is illustrated in FIG. 1.
It is known that sharing dedicated channels between user terminals enhances efficiency. This approach involves the use of an inactivity timer, whereby the network monitors the activity of all the packet-switched users, and when the network detects that there is no data activity (i.e., data communications to or from a particular user), the inactivity timer for that user terminal is started. Once the timer has been started, if the network detects activity for that particular user terminal, the timer is reset, to be re-started when the activity for that user terminal again ceases. If there is no activity for that user terminal until the expiry of the timer, the user terminal relinquishes its radio resources, though the connection with the network is still maintained. When this user has more data to send, the network allocates to the user terminal new radio resources. This approach is illustrated in FIG. 2. Using this approach, the radio resources freed by the use of the inactivity timer can then be utilised by other users. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing this.
In applications where the user traffic does not follow a predetermined traffic pattern, the user changes between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states in a non-deterministic fashion. This is because the time interval between successive data activity periods varies greatly during a call.
Signalling may be required for the network to transition the user between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states, with consequential use of base station transmit power. Part of the signalling to make the users change between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states is performed on a (shared) signalling channel. As a signalling channel has no power control (or very crude power control), its use requires a significant amount of base station transmit power.
On the one hand, if the value of the inactivity timer is large, the transitions between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states do not occur as frequently, and as a consequence, less signalling, and consequential power usage for signalling, is required; however, there is, of course, a longer delay before resources are reallocated to another user, which can be undesirable.
On the other hand for a small inactivity timer value, the user transitions back and forth between the ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ states frequently. Frequent signalling is involved to change between the two states during which a large amount of base station transmit power is required. Furthermore, there are user terminals that require less base station transmit power in the ‘active’ state than for signalling. With frequent signalling, the overall base station transmit power allocated for those users is higher, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This holds true for any network where the base station transmit power required for signalling is higher than the base station transmit power required by the corresponding ‘active’ state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by a telecommunications base station to communications with a first user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released for use by another user terminal, the length of time being selected dependent upon the expected base station transmit power required for communications to the first user terminal. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method provides user-specific data inactivity timers for packet data services. A timer is selected for a user dependent upon the base station (i.e. downlink) power required to communicate with that user. Each user has its own customised inactivity timer value instead of fixed inactivity timer value for all the users. This contrasts with the prior art approach in which the data inactivity timer value is fixed at one value for all the users. Advantages of the present invention in its preferred embodiments are that it is possible to use the radio resources, in particular the base station transmit power, more efficiently. There is also a reduction in the excessive signalling involved in switching between active and inactive states.
Advantageously, the length is selected dependent upon the last recorded base station transmit power used for communicating with the first user terminal.
Advantageously, the higher the expected base station transmit power, the shorter the length of time selected.
Advantageously, if the user terminal power is greater than a power threshold (t1) a shorter length of time is selected than otherwise. Preferably if the user terminal power is less than a further power threshold (t2) which is lower than the power threshold (t1), then a longer length of time is selected than otherwise. Preferably if the user terminal power is greater than the further power threshold (t2) but less than the power threshold (t1), then a length of time is selected that is intermediate of said shorter length of time and said longer length of time.
Advantageously the method is undertaken for each of a plurality of first user terminals each having an associated dedicated channel for communications, so as to provide for each first user terminal an associated selected length of time.
Advantageously the method is undertaken repeatedly over time so as to enable adjustment of the length of time selected in response to a change in the expected base station transmit power. The present invention also provides a network for radio telecommunications comprising a base station and a plurality of user terminals including a first user terminal and other user terminals, the network comprising a timer associated with the first user terminal operative to determine whether a length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by the base station to communications with the first user terminal has been reached so as to release the channel for use by one of the other user terminals, the network comprising a selector operative to select the length of time dependent upon the expected base station transmit power required for communications to the first user terminal.
Furthermore advantageously the selector is operative to select the length dependent upon its last recorded base station transmit power used for communicating with the first user terminal.
Furthermore advantageously the selector is operative to select such that the higher the expected base station transmit power, the shorter the length of time selected. Furthermore preferably the selector is operative to select such that if the user terminal power is greater than a power threshold (t1) a shorter length of time is selected than otherwise. Furthermore preferably if the user terminal power is less than a further power threshold (t2) which is lower than the power threshold (t1), then a longer length of time is selected than otherwise. Furthermore preferably the selector is operative to select such that if the user terminal power is greater than the further power threshold (t2) but less than the power threshold (t1), then a length of time is selected that is intermediate of said shorter length of time and said longer length of time.
Furthermore advantageously the selector is operative to select lengths of time to be used for each of a plurality of first user terminals each having an associated dedicated channel for communications, such that each first user terminal has an associated selected length of time.
Furthermore advantageously the selector is operative to select the or each length of time repeatedly over time so as to enable adjustment of the length of time selected in response to a change in the base station transmit power required.
Advantageously the base station is under the control of a radio network controller, the radio network controller comprising the selector.
Advantageously the radio network controller maintains a record of base station transmit power level used to the or each first user terminal, the record being updated over time, the recorded base station transmit power level being the expected base station transmit power for further communications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating use of channel resources by dedicated channels;
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the use of an inactivity timer;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating sharing dedicated channel resources via inactivity timer;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating base station power duty cycle due to data inactivity;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a network for mobile telecommunications;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating use of a user specific inactivity timer in the network shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating power thresholds and the corresponding inactivity timer values used in the network; and
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an algorithm for the inactivity timer scheme.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In one embodiment of the present invention, method is provided for selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by a telecommunications base station to communications with a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released. The present invention also relates to a corresponding network for radio telecommunications
As shown in FIG. 5, a preferred UMTS radio access network UTRAN 10 consists of a radio network controller RNC 12 which controls the operation of several base transceiver stations (base transceiver stations BTS 14, denoted NodeB in UMTS terminology, and one of which is shown in FIG. 5 for simplicity). A base transceiver station 14 communicates with a mobile user terminal (e.g., user equipment UE 16) during a call connection to that user terminal 16.
User-specific data inactivity timers are provided, i.e. each user can be assigned a different inactivity timer value. This timer value for a user terminal is selected based on the base station power required by the user terminal as illustrated in FIG. 6. If the user terminal consumes a large amount of base station power (m), then a small value (n) of inactivity timer is assigned. However, if the user terminal requires less base station power (p), then a larger value (q) of inactivity timer is assigned. As shown in FIG. 6, for user terminals (e.g., user 1, user 2) with identical activity and inactivity periods but with different power requirements, a user terminal (e.g., user 2) which demand more base station power (m), is set a shorter, e.g., lower value, inactivity timer (n). Hence, the resources utilized by a base station power-greedy user terminal will be released earlier. On the other hand, for a user terminal (e.g., user 1) utilising less base station power (p), the resources will be released later because of the larger, i.e. longer, inactivity timer (q).
The radio network controller RNC 12 keeps a record of power level used to each user terminal, and determines the timer to be applied in communications between the base station and the user terminal. The power usage of each user terminal is periodically reported back to and updated in the radio network controller RNC 12 by the respective base station.
One example implementation is as follows, being a scheme whereby a user terminal's inactivity timer is set as low, medium or high based on its power requirement.
    • 1. If the user terminal's required base station transmit power is greater than a first power threshold (t1) but less than maximum base station power, then set timer to low.
    • 2. If the user terminal's required base station transmit power is greater than a second power threshold (t2) but less than the first power threshold (t1), then set timer to medium.
    • 3. If the user terminal's required base station transmit power is greater than minimum base station power but less than the second power threshold (t2), then set timer to high.
      The above strategy is illustrated by FIG. 7.
As shown in FIG. 8, the method steps to implement the proposed scheme are as follows. The base station transmit power to a user terminal is determined (a). A determination is made (b) as to whether that power is greater than a preselected higher power threshold t1. If (c) the power is greater than the higher power threshold t1, then (d) inactivity time-out timer to be applied is set to low, e.g., the resources are released soonest from the start of inactivity in data transfer being detected.
If (e) the power is less than or equal to the higher power threshold t1, then a determination is made (f) as to whether that power is greater or less than a preselected lower power threshold t2. If (g) the power is greater than the lower power threshold t2, then (h) inactivity time-out timer to be applied is set to medium i.e. the resources are released next soonest from the start of inactivity in data transfer being detected. If (i) the power is less than or equal to the lower power threshold t2, then (j) the inactivity time-out timer to be applied is set to high, e.g., the resources are released the longest time from the start of inactivity in data transfer being detected. In each case after the timer has been selected, (k) the base station transmit power required to the user terminal is considered again to determine whether a change in inactivity timer is required. The inactivity timer for each user terminal is thus user terminal-specific, and dynamic in the sense of changing over time in response to changing base station transmit power requirements, for example, as a user terminal traverses through a base station's cell (e.g., area of radio coverage).
While the particular invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. It is understood that although the present invention has been described, various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as additional embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reference to this description without departing from the spirit of the invention, as recited in the claims appended hereto. Consequently, the method, system and portions thereof and of the described method and system may be implemented in different locations, such as the wireless unit, the base station, a base station controller and/or mobile switching center. Moreover, processing circuitry required to implement and use the described system may be implemented in application specific integrated circuits, software-driven processing circuitry, firmware, programmable logic devices, hardware, discrete components or arrangements of the above components as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that these and various other modifications, arrangements and methods can be made to the present invention without strictly following the exemplary applications illustrated and described herein and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims (18)

1. A method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by a telecommunications base station to communications with a first user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released for use by another user terminal, the length of time being selected dependent upon the expected base station transmit power required for communications to the first user terminal.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the length is selected dependent upon the last recorded base station transmit power used for communicating with the first user terminal.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the higher the expected base station transmit power, the shorter the length of time selected.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a shorter length of time is selected than otherwise if the user terminal power is greater than a power threshold (t1).
5. A method according to claim 4, in which if the user terminal power is less than a further power threshold (t2) which is lower than the power threshold (t1), then a longer length of time is selected than otherwise.
6. A method according to claim 5, in which if the user terminal power is greater than the further power threshold (t2) but less than the power threshold (t1), then a length of time is selected that is intermediate of said shorter length of time and said longer length of time.
7. A method according to claim 1, which is undertaken for each of a plurality of first user terminals each having an associated dedicated channel for communications, so as to provide for each first user terminal an associated selected length of time.
8. A method according to claim 1, which is undertaken repeatedly over time so as to enable adjustment of the length of time selected in response to a change in the expected base station transmit power.
9. A network for radio telecommunications comprising a base station and a plurality of user terminals including a first user terminal and other user terminals, the network comprising a timer associated with the first user terminal operative to determine whether a length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated by the base station to communications with the first user terminal has been reached so as to release the channel for use by one of the other user terminals, the network comprising a selector operative to select the length of time dependent upon the expected base station transmit power required for communications to the first user terminal.
10. A network according to claim 9, in which the selector is operative to select the length dependent upon its last recorded base station transmit power used for communicating with the first user terminal.
11. A network according to claim 9, in which the selector is operative to select such that the higher the expected base station transmit power, the shorter the length of time selected.
12. A network according to claim 10, in which the selector is operative to select such that if the user terminal power is greater than a power threshold (t1) a shorter length of time is selected than otherwise.
13. A network according to claim 12, in which if the user terminal power is less than a further power threshold (t2) which is lower than the power threshold (t1), then a longer length of time is selected than otherwise.
14. A network according to claim 13, in which the selector is operative to select such that if the user terminal power is greater than the further power threshold (t2) but less than the power threshold (t1), then a length of time is selected that is intermediate of said shorter length of time and said longer length of time.
15. A network according to claim 9, in which the selector is operative to select lengths of time to be used for each of a plurality of first user terminals each having an associated dedicated channel for communications, such that each first user terminal has an associated selected length of time.
16. A network according to claim 9, in which the selector is operative to select the or each length of time repeatedly over time so as to enable adjustment of the length of time selected in response to a change in the base station transmit power required.
17. A network according to claim 9, in which the base station is under the control of a radio network controller, the radio network controller comprising the selector.
18. A network according to claim 9 in which the radio network controller maintains a record of base station transmit power level used to the or each first user terminal, the record being updated over time, the recorded base station transmit power level being the expected base station transmit power for further communications.
US10/449,178 2002-06-24 2003-05-30 Method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated to a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released, and a corresponding network for radio telecommunications Expired - Fee Related US6944458B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0214518.3 2002-06-24
GB0214518A GB2390263B (en) 2002-06-24 2002-06-24 A method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedictated to a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released,

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030236094A1 US20030236094A1 (en) 2003-12-25
US6944458B2 true US6944458B2 (en) 2005-09-13

Family

ID=9939157

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/449,178 Expired - Fee Related US6944458B2 (en) 2002-06-24 2003-05-30 Method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated to a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released, and a corresponding network for radio telecommunications

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US6944458B2 (en)
GB (1) GB2390263B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060088003A1 (en) * 2004-10-21 2006-04-27 Motorola, Inc. Method and computer program for selecting an inactivity timeout interval based on last data direction
US20060252441A1 (en) * 2005-05-03 2006-11-09 Harris John M System and method for programming an inactivity timer
US20110178652A1 (en) * 2010-01-15 2011-07-21 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamically Adjusting an Operating State of a Data Processing System Running Under a Power Cap
US20190364199A1 (en) * 2018-05-24 2019-11-28 Magna Electronics Inc. Vehicle vision system with infrared led synchronization

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7139246B2 (en) * 2004-06-29 2006-11-21 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for adjusting a mobile communication inactivity timer
US8385938B2 (en) * 2004-12-03 2013-02-26 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Radio resource management based on load and channel inactivity
AU2006277092B2 (en) * 2005-08-09 2010-05-13 Nokia Technologies Oy Method and apparatus for allocating communication resources using virtual circuit switching in a wireless communication system and method for transmitting and receiving data in a mobile station using the same
KR100702782B1 (en) 2005-08-29 2007-04-03 주식회사 케이티프리텔 Method of managing dormant function in mobile communication network and managing apparatus for the same
US7680478B2 (en) * 2006-05-04 2010-03-16 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Inactivity monitoring for different traffic or service classifications
CN101772061B (en) 2010-01-14 2013-11-06 华为技术有限公司 Sleeping timer control method and device and communication system
US20140293857A1 (en) * 2011-10-07 2014-10-02 Nokia Corporation Method and apparatus for managing terminals
US20130260784A1 (en) * 2012-03-29 2013-10-03 Christopher J. Lutz Personal electronic device locator
US9185649B2 (en) * 2012-03-30 2015-11-10 Qualcomm Incorporated High-speed data channel availability
WO2015005853A2 (en) * 2013-07-09 2015-01-15 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Method and apparatus in a telecommunication system
US10304088B2 (en) * 2014-12-05 2019-05-28 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Advertising for a user device in a standby mode
US10952098B2 (en) * 2018-06-20 2021-03-16 Charter Communications Operating, Llc Capacity management methods and apparatus for use in a citizens broadband radio service network
US11683717B2 (en) 2020-11-09 2023-06-20 Celona, Inc. Method and apparatus for determining wireless MNO coverage and efficiently operating an enterprise wireless communication network
US11558924B2 (en) * 2020-11-09 2023-01-17 Celona, Inc. Method and apparatus for selectively releasing user equipment devices to efficiently operate an enterprise wireless communication network

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5392287A (en) 1992-03-05 1995-02-21 Qualcomm Incorporated Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a mobile communications receiver
JPH09322238A (en) 1996-05-29 1997-12-12 Nippon Denki Ido Tsushin Kk Dialing control system for mobile communication system
US5806007A (en) 1995-10-18 1998-09-08 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Activity control for a mobile station in a wireless communication system
EP0892571A2 (en) 1997-07-14 1999-01-20 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Method for allocating time to a mobile station
US6058289A (en) 1995-09-26 2000-05-02 Pacific Communication Sciences, Inc. Method and apparatus for low power mobile unit for cellular communications system
US6169880B1 (en) 1996-10-16 2001-01-02 Ericsson Inc. Method and system of load sharing and prioritization of radio repeaters
US6249681B1 (en) * 1997-04-01 2001-06-19 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Method and apparatus for packet data call re-establishment in a telecommunications system
EP1150462A1 (en) 2000-04-28 2001-10-31 Alcatel A method, mobile terminal and base station for assigning ressources in a shared channel
US20010036831A1 (en) * 1997-09-16 2001-11-01 Ramin Rezaiifar Supplemental channel selection in wireless communication systems
US6473419B1 (en) * 1998-03-26 2002-10-29 Nokia Corporation State apparatus, and associated methods, for controlling packet data communications in a radio communication system
US20020160812A1 (en) * 2001-04-26 2002-10-31 Ramin Moshiri-Tafreshi Channel supervision in a radio network
US20050063304A1 (en) * 2002-05-07 2005-03-24 Nokia Corporation Release timer for NRT connection in mobile communication network

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5392287A (en) 1992-03-05 1995-02-21 Qualcomm Incorporated Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a mobile communications receiver
US6058289A (en) 1995-09-26 2000-05-02 Pacific Communication Sciences, Inc. Method and apparatus for low power mobile unit for cellular communications system
US5806007A (en) 1995-10-18 1998-09-08 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Activity control for a mobile station in a wireless communication system
JPH09322238A (en) 1996-05-29 1997-12-12 Nippon Denki Ido Tsushin Kk Dialing control system for mobile communication system
US6169880B1 (en) 1996-10-16 2001-01-02 Ericsson Inc. Method and system of load sharing and prioritization of radio repeaters
US6249681B1 (en) * 1997-04-01 2001-06-19 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Method and apparatus for packet data call re-establishment in a telecommunications system
EP0892571A2 (en) 1997-07-14 1999-01-20 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Method for allocating time to a mobile station
US20010036831A1 (en) * 1997-09-16 2001-11-01 Ramin Rezaiifar Supplemental channel selection in wireless communication systems
US6473419B1 (en) * 1998-03-26 2002-10-29 Nokia Corporation State apparatus, and associated methods, for controlling packet data communications in a radio communication system
EP1150462A1 (en) 2000-04-28 2001-10-31 Alcatel A method, mobile terminal and base station for assigning ressources in a shared channel
US20020031119A1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2002-03-14 Jerome Brouet Method for assigning resources in a shared channel, a corresponding mobile terminal and a corresponding base station
US20020160812A1 (en) * 2001-04-26 2002-10-31 Ramin Moshiri-Tafreshi Channel supervision in a radio network
US20050063304A1 (en) * 2002-05-07 2005-03-24 Nokia Corporation Release timer for NRT connection in mobile communication network

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060088003A1 (en) * 2004-10-21 2006-04-27 Motorola, Inc. Method and computer program for selecting an inactivity timeout interval based on last data direction
US20060252441A1 (en) * 2005-05-03 2006-11-09 Harris John M System and method for programming an inactivity timer
US20110178652A1 (en) * 2010-01-15 2011-07-21 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamically Adjusting an Operating State of a Data Processing System Running Under a Power Cap
US8429433B2 (en) * 2010-01-15 2013-04-23 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamically adjusting an operating state of a data processing system running under a power cap
US20190364199A1 (en) * 2018-05-24 2019-11-28 Magna Electronics Inc. Vehicle vision system with infrared led synchronization
US10958830B2 (en) * 2018-05-24 2021-03-23 Magna Electronics Inc. Vehicle vision system with infrared LED synchronization
US11240427B2 (en) 2018-05-24 2022-02-01 Magna Electronics Inc. Vehicular vision system with infrared emitter synchronization
US11627389B2 (en) 2018-05-24 2023-04-11 Magna Electronics Inc. Vehicular vision system with infrared emitter synchronization
US11849215B2 (en) 2018-05-24 2023-12-19 Magna Electronics Inc. Vehicular vision system with camera and near-infrared emitter synchronization

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2390263A (en) 2003-12-31
GB0214518D0 (en) 2002-08-07
US20030236094A1 (en) 2003-12-25
GB2390263B (en) 2004-05-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6944458B2 (en) Method of selecting length of time of inactivity on a channel dedicated to a user terminal to be detected for the channel to be released, and a corresponding network for radio telecommunications
EP1855502B1 (en) Wireless base station and method for controlling operations of the same and mobile communication system using the same
KR100413417B1 (en) Call Access Control Method for Mobile Terminal in Mobile Communication System
US20050032555A1 (en) Method of intermittent activation of receiving circuitry of a mobile user terminal
CN100441037C (en) Fast setup of physical communication channels
EP2549821B1 (en) Method, apparatus and system for triggering resource configuration
EP1817932B1 (en) Radio resource management based on load and channel inactivity
US20050117536A1 (en) System and method for transmitting and receiving resource allocation information in a wireless communication system
CN101911817A (en) Method and apparatus for state/mode transitioning
JP2003513533A (en) Channel type switching method from dedicated channel to common channel based on common channel load
US8423040B2 (en) Apparatus and method for managing radio resources based on traffic pattern of user equipment
WO2003005755A2 (en) System and method for channel transport format allocation in a wireless communication system
US7505771B2 (en) Method for assigning orthogonal variable spreading factor code in a wireless cellular telecommunication system
JP3635239B2 (en) Dedicated channel allocation method for packet transmission
CN103188801A (en) Control method and control device of station (STA)
WO2002001769A2 (en) Plural signaling channels for communicating signaling information to a user equipment terminal in a radio communications system
JP3842663B2 (en) Base station and radio resource allocation method
KR101429275B1 (en) Neighbor cell measurements during packet mode in wireless communications networks
KR100566233B1 (en) Apparatus and method for data rate transmission of user element in mobile communication system
US8582451B2 (en) Code assignment in HS-SCCH less operation mode
JP2004343309A (en) Radio network device, and method for allocating resource of radio network device
CN100583870C (en) Method for raising high speed downlink block access availability
US20090046666A1 (en) Resource Control in a Wireless Communication Network
US20060193303A1 (en) Radio network controller
KR100625430B1 (en) Selective random access method for data handoff calls in wireless communication system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC., NEW JERSEY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:JAMI, IQBAL;PIGGIN, PAUL WILLIAM;REEL/FRAME:014136/0029

Effective date: 20020705

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
AS Assignment

Owner name: OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LP, NEW YORK

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC;REEL/FRAME:043966/0574

Effective date: 20170822

Owner name: OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LP, NEW YO

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC;REEL/FRAME:043966/0574

Effective date: 20170822

AS Assignment

Owner name: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC, CALIFORNIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ALCATEL LUCENT;REEL/FRAME:044000/0053

Effective date: 20170722

LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.)

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20170913

AS Assignment

Owner name: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC, CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:OCO OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P. (F/K/A OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND LP;REEL/FRAME:049246/0405

Effective date: 20190516

AS Assignment

Owner name: OT WSOU TERRIER HOLDINGS, LLC, CALIFORNIA

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC;REEL/FRAME:056990/0081

Effective date: 20210528